Pan-treating apparatus



Aug. .16, 1927.

- v G. SMITH PAN TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 17', 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 16, 1927.

1,639,540 G. SMITH PAN TREATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 17, 1925 ug G. SMITH PAN TREMJING APfARATUS .3 Sheets-She s; 3

Original FiledApril 17,- 1925 $8051 mac lll Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED ,STATE enonen smart, or Biennium). vine-mm.

PAN-TREATING APPARATUS.

rigina1 application filed April 17., 1925, Serial No. 23,980. Divided and this application filed June 11,

1926. Serial No. 115,403.

thereto. The term wiping is used in this application in its broad sense and is not confined to a mere cleanmg function but embraces cleaning, pollshing or applying a coating to the surface of a pan.

In prior devices of this character a rotary brush member has been used which only engages tangentially a limited area of the pan sui f-ace and is thus inefficientto completely wipe the surface or evenlyxapply a coating thereon. It is of importance in the preparation of these pans for baking purposes that the surface be properly" greased in order to secure a uniform product in the baking operation. Insufiicient grease results in sticking of the dough to the pan. while the application of too much grease is not only unnecessary waste and expense but results in a product in which the under surface is full of holes. It is therefore of importance to apply an even contimious coati-ng of proper amount and the invention contemplates improved mean for this purpose.

To obviate such objections and produce an improved product in the baking operation. I have provided a treating member adapted to engage a material area of the pan surface and travel parallel thereto during a portion of its movement. and further to provide a rotating contact member which may be used alone as a wiper or polisher for cleaning purposes or combined with a liquid feeding means to grease or coat the surface of a pan.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construct-ionincluding a rotating member having a pivot-ed engaging surface adapted to swing upon its base during rotat-ive movement and traverse the surface of travelling pan in a plane parallel thereto and in contact with the pan-f0 a portion of its rotativ-e movement. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of the treating or wiping member secured to a rolegs.

device having an engaging member con structed to travel upon thepan surface parallel thereto during aportion of its rotation Another object of the invention is to combi'n'e the novel wiping device with .a' liquid feeding means by which the capillary feed is carried to the surface of the wiper in order to apply a continuous even coatingupon the surface of a pan. 7 a j V v Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine; 1

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal-section;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the treating members;

Figure iis alike view of the polishing cloth before application; and

Figure 5 is a vertical. section throughthe parts shown inFigure '3. V I

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

While this invention is shown in connection with means for flattening, scraping, cleaning and greasing a pan, still it is' applicable to machines embodying other mechanical elements, or for use independently of any cooperating mechanisms.

As illustrating one form of the invention the frame of the machine is provided with le'gs 1 upper and lower longitudinal sills 2 and 2* respectively, the-rebeing also provided suitable cross members with which the sills are appropriately fastened to the At each side of the machinethrough out the major portion of its length intermediate sills 3 are provided for the purpose of supporting certain of the driving mechanism' for the various instrumentalit ies which the machine includes.

Ext-ending longitudinally of the frame and between the upper sills is a travelling bed or conveyor C which is adapted to en:

gage and feed pans P to be acted upon by various appliances for flattening, scraping, brushmg wiping or polishing and greasing.

These appliances are carried by the sills 2;

excepting one of the elements of the pan flattening device which is supported by the sill 3. The conveyor C is formed of cross pieces or blocks l of suitable material which are connected to endless sprocket-chains 5 which are trained over gears 6 and 7, the gear 6 at the delivery. end of the machine being undriven and the gear 7 at the receiving end being driven.

The gears 6 are keyed upon the shaft 8 which rotates freely in bearings 9 while the gears 7 are carriedby a shaft 10 mounted in bearings 11 on the sill 3. The bearing ll is disposed substantially beneath the delivery from the pan hopper H atthe front of the machine. To support the upper reach of the conveyor and prevent sagging thereof, opposite angle irons 12 extend. inwardly from the inner faces of the sills :2 throughout substantially the length of the conveyor reach. The details of this conveyorv and means for operating the same are specifically disclosed in my copending application afoie.

said.

The pan shown in connection with this form of the invention is of the usual type used in bakeries and the body thereof is provided with a reinforced bead P at all of its edges, the'pan being preferably of rectangular shape and adapted to lie with its body portion in direct contact with the upper surface of the conveyor blocks which are formed with longitudinal grooves 16 of suliioient depth to permit the pan to contact with the upper surface of the block and a similar lateral recess 17 adjacent the ends of the block disposed to receive a pan bead at that point upon a number of the blocks. The recesses 16 are spaced from each other relative to the diameter of. the pan upon which the mechanism is operating.

In order to support the lower reach of the conveyor and also drivethe same to relieve the linksof the chain of the driving strain, a plurality of carrier chains 21 have been provided and bear against. the under face of the lower reach of the chain G. This carrier may be mounted upon sprockets on the shaft 22 at its rear while the forward end is carried upon a similar sprocketupon the, shaft 25 which ispreferably driven at a speed slightly greater than the blocks of the conveyor. r

The pans P are fed from ahopper H positioned at the front of the frame and pass therefrom beneath flattening rollers F and F, and for this purpose the conveyor withdraws the lowermost pan from the hopper and feeds it forward into the operative field of a scraping device, as, indicated at S. The material loosened by this scraper is polishing function. While two of these elements are shown, it will be obvious that one may be used or a greater nun'iber if the conditions of operation prove the same desirable.

The wiping element W comprises a shaft 82 mounted in bearing brackets 83 upon the upper sill 2 and carrying a frame having radiating arms or wings 8%. The number of these arms may be varied at will, three being shown in Figure 5. The shaft and its arms are driven in an opposite direction to the travel of the conveyor C and this shaft is supported for relative vertical movement .in the brackets 83 by sliding bearings 83 tersioned toward the pan or conveyor by means of dependent rods carrying weights 86 at opposite ends of the shaft 82.

Secured to the arms are leaves or extensions 87 by means of pivotal joints 88 through which a longitudinally extending rod 8. extends. Coiled about this red is a spring member 90 bearing at its opposite ends upon the arms and extensions 87 so as to normally force, these parts toward the same plane. Each of the extensions 8'? has secured thereto a longitudinally extending plate 91 one edge of which is curved inwardly and overlaps the supporting wing 91 is provided at each end with ears 93 for removahly suppor ing a rod 9 which is passed through a fabric binding 95 carrying at its opposite edges the wiping strips 96 of relatively stout material which are co extensive with the plates 91.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, when the shaft 82 is rotated the extensions are bent rearwardly by contact with the pan P and the self wiping plies or strips 96 are brought .into superposed relation against .tliesurface of the pan in a plane parallel thereto. It will be obvious that by removing the-rod 94- and reversing the position of the ends of the binding strip a clean ply may be brought from its previous superposed position and disposed to bear upon the pan surface. These plies can obviously be shift ltlt) intermediate the first and second wipers in order to retain the pan in proper position. This roller is driven in the direction of movement of the conveyor and serves to accelerate such movement.- The second wiping element 1V is similar to that just described. and is likewise maintained under yielding tension.

Grease applicator.

The pans having beenthoroughly cleaned are noW ready to receive the thin coating of grease, after which they will he passed to the machine for depositing the dough for a new batch of cakes. The grease for application to the pans is contained in a receptacle 100 mounted upon brackets 101,' as shown in Figure 2. This receptacleextends transversely across the frame and has a troughlike portion 102 at its bottom provided with a slot co-extensive with its length and through which a wick 103 extends, the function of which is to supply grease by a capillary feed to a rotary applicator 104 which is similar in construction to the wiping or treating devices and W before described.

The flow of grease through the wick is controlled by means of a strip 105 which is adaptedto bear against the wick to compress the same against a wall of the trough slot 102. -The strip is controlled by means of screw rods 106 which pass through top bearings 107 and are provided at their upper ends with finger grips 108. By tightening the strip firmly against the wick the floiv of grease may be entirely out off, while a variation of such pressure determines the amount of feed to the greasing element G.

Beneath the bottom of the receptacle 100a chamber 109 is provided which is accessible from one end and adapted to receive any desired heating means such as an electric coil 110 to which current may be supplied by a suitable conductor 111 indicated in Figure 1. The function of the heater is to maintain a proper temperature of'the grease in the receptacle so that its liquid condition will cause it to freely feed through the wick and it is also desirable that the side and bottom walls of the chamber 110 be suitably insulated so that the heat generated will he cirected against the bottom of the receptacle. The .grease applicator 104 comprises essentially a shaft 112 which is driven in a direction counter to the travel of the pans and the wings of which carry the fabric contact members 113 these being disposed to engage the depending end ofthe wick din ing their rotation. The number of such wings may be varied at will, four being herein shown as found suflicient to properly and evenly grease the surface of a pan passing thereunder.

At opposite sides of the greasing element G additional holding rollers 114 and 115' upon the delivery extension 116, being held thereon by a guide. element 117- until the free edge ofthe pan is engaged by the delivery rolls 118 and 119, respectively, which are driven in the direction of the travel of the pans at a greater speed thus causing a forcible withdrawal of the pan from the conveyor and its delivery into a suitable hopper as indicated at 120.

Driving mechanism.

Any desired form of driving mechanism may be used for actuating the treating members comprising the present invention in the directions of rotation as previously stated. A desirable form comprises a -motor 58 mounted upon the sills 2 and driving a pule ley wheel 56 upon the main driving shaft 55 of the machine by means of the belt 57.

The conveyor C is driven by a sprocket and chain connection from shaft 55' to shaft 124. from which chain 127 extends to the large sprocket gear 128 on shaft 10. This shaft 10 also carries agear 146, meshing with gear 147 on shaft 25 for driving the chains 21. The shaft 77 of the brush element B is driven counter to the direction of movement of the conveyor by a connecting chain 130 from shaft 124. From the shaft 77 a chain drive 133 extends'to the shaft 82 of the wiper W, while from the latter shaft a chain drive 136 extends to the shaft of the element W. The shaft 112 of the grease applicator G is connected by a chain drive 138 from the shaft 124, Figure 1. The holding rolls 81 and 97 are driven by chain 141 from shaft 142 properly actuated from shaft 55', Figure 2. The de-' livery rolls 118 and 119 are geared together and driven at an accelerated speed by the chain and sprocket connection 145 from the shaft of the rear gear 6, Figure 1.

The. operation of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description from which it will be seen that the pans are fed from beneath the scrapers and brush to the first wiper and thence to .the polishing wiper from which they are delivered to the grease applying wiper. An essential novel feature of the invention is the structure of the wiping or coating members which is also embodied in the greasing unit. and this comprises the pivoted leaves carried by the radial arms which cause the fabric wipers to rest in parallel contact with the pan for an extended period during the rotation of the wiper, and further permits the removal and reversal of the wipers so as to n aterially extend their period of usefulness. Such a structure provides a single unit capable of 1 ll an excess of grease applied.

the specific construction of this device nas been shown and de- 1 scr bed, the invention not conlined thereto as changes and alterations may be made without depart Y from the spirit of the invention as dc.- followin claims. Having t us describedmy invention, what I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z- 1. A pan treating niechunisn'i including a iody rotatable upon horizontal axis and iavine; a fixed support 1" nil thereto, a contact membpivoted i said support to swing into a position a; an angle thereto wlieiiem zing a cooperating surface, and a wiper caiimdby .haid meu'iber.

2. ll. pan tre ng mecha ism incliuliug a body rotatable upon a hoi iraontal axis and having a fixed suiport radial thereto, a contactniomher p"-. ited upon said support to swing into a position at an angle thereto when engaging a cooperating surface, and a wiper carried by 1 exi'nember and tended therefrom toward the axis of the body.

3. A pan treating mechanism including a e ble upon a horizontal axis and ed support radnll thereto, a coninember pivoted upon said support to wi into a position at angle thereto when engaging cooperating surface, and a w yer carried by said nicml'ier ant. extended therefrom to overlap and engage said radial support.

4:. A. pantreating mecl'ianisn'i including a body rotatable upon horizontal axis and having a fixed support radial thereto, a rigid contact member pivo ed to said support at its edge net said 21...... and a ca rier for a wipesecured to said member ant-i extended ton rd the axis of the body to overlap the .t between the sup ort and contact mem- 6. In a pan treating apparatus, a rotatable member, and a flexible wiper folded upon itself and detachably secured to the rotating member and with its free ends capable of reversal.

7. A pan treating member comprising a shaft, an arm extending radially therefrom, a leaf pivoted to said arm, and a flexible engaging surface mounted upon said leaf.

8. A pan treating member comprising a shaft, an arm extending radially therefrom, a leaf pivoted to said arm, a plate secured to said leaf and extending inward therefrom, and a flexible wiper pivotally mounted upon said plate.

9. A pan treating member comprising a shaft, an arm extending radially therefrom, a leaf pivoted to said arm, a plate secured to said leaf and extending inward therefromaflexible wiper having a central binding; and a pivoting rod mounted upon the plate and extending through said bindin 10. A pan treatin" device comprising a shaft, a radial arm tuerefrom, a leaf pivoted to said arm, a tension spring disposed to project said leaf radially, and a flexible contactingsurface mounted upon said leaf and extending over a material area of the arm.

11. A pan treating device comprising a shaft, radial arm therefrom, a leaf pivoted to said arm, a tension spring disposed to project said leaf radially, a plate mounted upon said leaf and extended over the joint between the arm and leaf, and a flexible wiper secured to the inner end of said plate and havinga free outer end.

12. In a pan treating apparatus, a pan conveyor, a liquid reservoir having a feed slot in its lower portion, a capillary Wick feed extending through said slot and into the reservoir, a strip disposed within the reservoir and cooperating with a wall of said slot to compress the wick into contact therewith, means for adjusting said strip, and a rotary applicator having pivoted wiper wings extending transversely of the conveyor and disposed to secure extended contact with said Wick and a pan upon the conveyor. i

13. In a mechanism of the class described, a conveyor having means for supporting a pan thereon, a wiping device including a shaft having a radial wing, a leaf pivotally connected to said wing, and flexible wipers secured at one end of said leaf.

14. In a mechanism of the class described,

a conveyor having means for supporting a pan thereon, a wipingdevice including a shaft having a radial Wing, a leaf pivotally connected to said Wing, means for tensioning 16. In a mechanism of the class described,

a conveyor having means for supporting a pan thereon, a wiper device including a shaft provided with radial Wings, leaves pivoted to said Wings supporting plates extending from said leaves to overlap said. Wings, and means at one edge of said plate for supporting a flexible Wiper thereon.

17. In a mechanism of the class described,' a conveyor having means for supporting a pan thereon, a Wiper device including a shaft provided with radial Wings, leaves pivoted to said Wings, supporting plates extending from said leaves to overlap said Wings, and a flexible Wiper comprising members adapted to be folded upon each other and removably a-nd reversibly supported by said plate.

18. In a pan treating apparatus, a pan conveyor. a liquid reservoir having a feed open ing at its lower portion. a capillary Wick feed extending hrough said opening and depend ing vertically from the reservoir, and a rotary applicator having flat faces disposed in their path of travel to effect extended engagement with said Wick and a pan upon said conveyor.

19. In a pan treating apparatus, a pan conveyor, a liquid reservoir having a feed opening at its lower portion, a capillary Wick feed extending through said opening and depending vertically from the reservoir, a rotary applicator having flat faces disposed in their path of travel to effect extended engagement with said Wick and a pan upon said conveyor and a heating chamber beneath said reservoir bottom; and adjacent said Wick.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE SMITH. 

